Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Croatia Travel

Croatia is one of my favorite countries EVER.  I absolutely fell in love with it, from the minute we got off the plane in Dubrovnik.  It’s a slightly off-the-beaten path European destination, & cheaper than much of Western Europe ~ but that’s not why you’ll want to visit Croatia.  Its turquoise waters will enchant you, its nightlife will intoxicate you, & its deserted islands will rejuvenate you.  And for the ladies: you’ve never seen such beautiful men in your life!  Which is why I had to write this “Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Croatia Travel…”

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World

Welcome to your “Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Croatia Travel!”

Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Croatia Travel

Did you know that there are thousands of islands off Croatia’s coastline?  Yes ~ thousands.  When we stayed on Hvar Island, the ultimate adult playground ~ & an absolute PERFECT destination for a girl’s getaway, we got to explore some of the 20+ surrounding islands, including one that opens only after midnight, for late-night beach dance parties.  It’s like a real-life “Fantasy Island.”  Just think how many hidden gems are out there, waiting to be discovered in Croatia… 

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World

Hvar Island, Croatia. The ultimate girl’s getaway..

Map of Croatia Highlights

Dubrovnik

Hvar Island

Split

Plitivice National Park

Sibenik

Jelsa

Korcula

Trogir

Cavtat

Zagreb International Airport

Mljet Island

Croatia Travel Overview!

  • Safety = Much Safer than the U.S. 90% 90%
  • Cost = Much cheaper than mainland Europe 45% 45%
  • Adventures = Abundant + Water-Based!! 100% 100%
  • How Safe I Felt as a Female Traveler = Very Safe 95% 95%
  • Croatian People = Some of the most GORGEOUS people I’ve ever seen ANYWHERE!!! Especially the men ; ) 100% 100%

Croatia Travel Facts!

  • Croatia in One Word = Perfect.
  • Croatia in One More Word = Turquoise (waters). 
  • International Airports in Croatia = There are three main international airports in Croatia: 1) Zagreb (in the north, near Slovenia), 2) Split (more central), & 3) Dubrovnik (southern Croatia, near Montenegro).
  • Wi-Fi = Wi-Fi available in major cities; less available when venturing out to the islands.
  • Global Peace Ranking = #31 out of 163 countries (U.S. is #103) = Statistically far safer than the U.S.
  • Hotels = Generally cheaper than the U.S. ~ particularly if using Airbnb or Homeaway.
  • Must-Do’s = Hop on a boat.  Swim in turquoise waters.  Have a girl’s (or boy’s) getaway on Hvar Island.  Stay up all night on a party island.  Go to “Yacht Week” with your best friends.  Take in the turquoise pools of Plitivice National Park.  Get lost in the medieval fortress that is Dubrovnik.  Pretend you’re Cersei Lannister.
  • Is Croatia Good for Solo Travelers = Yes. Absolutely. 
  • How Did I Feel as a Female Traveler in Croatia?  Very safe.  We were never cat-called, & on the islands, there’s a very relaxed vibe; most people are strolling around in bikinis (during the summer) & there doesn’t seem to be any issue with excess male attention.  The Croatian people seemed very relaxed & friendly, which, given their tumultuous history, is exemplary. 
  • Best Time to Visit Croatia = If you want warm weather, visit Croatia between May-October, but know that July & August will be VERY busy, & prices higher!  Low season is November-April; expect cool weather, few tourists, & lower prices.  We visited in June, during Yacht Week in Hvar, & the islands were still lively but not inundated with people.  Weather was perfect.
  • Would I Go Back = Yes!!!  I could live there.  Seriously.

Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Croatia Travel

Croatia is one of my absolute, top picks for female travel.  Whether you’re traveling as a solo female traveler, or with a group of friends ~ it’s hard to go wrong in Croatia.  The relaxed vibe, friendly people, & from what I could tell, no hint of machismo culture ~ makes for an effortless place for female travel. 

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World

This is how we feel about Croatia.

Croatia Photos 

Putting together this collection of Croatia photos literally makes me want to book a plane ticket back.  I dare you to scroll through these images & not dream of Croatia afterwards.  And to make future travel planning easier, if a particular image grabs your attention, simply click on it & you’ll be able to search for accommodations in that exact location.  We’re off to Croatia…

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World

Our $90/night, 3-BR Airbnb, steps away from the walls of Dubrovnik. Click on photo for more hotels in Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik: We started our Croatia trip in Dubrovnik, flying into its International Airport, just south of town.  All of us were “Game of Thrones” fans, & we were dying to see the walled city of “King’s Landing” in real life.  It did not disappoint.  Our Airbnb was steps away from the walled city, cheap, & had windows opening up to the sea.  It was love at first sight.  Dubrovnik is filled with restaurants, bars, & nightlife ~ but can be quite touristy, so if you don’t want to be around tourists, head for the islands…

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World

Where “Game of Thrones” is filmed…Dubrovnik, Croatia ~ aka King’s Landing.

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World

Girls gone wild, in Dubrovnik.

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World, Cavtat, Croatia

Boat-filled harbor in Cavtat, Croatia.

Cavtat: Just 20 km south of Dubrovnik, lies the beautiful medieval town of Cavtat.  Surrounded by hills & close to Croatia’s border with Montenegro, Cavtat is a perfect base if you want nice resorts ~ but without the masses of tourists that descend upon Dubrovnik.  Cavtat is easily reachable by bus, taxi, or even a boat from Dubrovnik.

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World, Hvar Island, Croatia

My personal favorite place in Croatia: Hvar Island. Come here to party, dance, drink, & lay in the sun…with people from all over the world.

Hvar Island: It would be impossible to write the “Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Croatia Travel” without including Hvar Island.  We traveled to Hvar via a 3-hour ferry from Dubrovnik (ferries run May-September, find schedules here).  Upon landing, we essentially found ourselves in paradise.  Hvar is the ultimate girl’s getaway because it ticks all the boxes: great nightlife, great restaurants, gorgeous beaches ~ both for partying & relaxing, beautiful people, & no kids!  Leave the kids behind here: because Hvar is the ultimate adult destination.

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl WHo Travels the World, Mljet Croatia

The unspoiled beauty of Mljet, Croatia.

Mljet Island: If nature, peace, quiet, & unspoiled beauty are what you’re after ~ then head to Mljet Island.  Most of the island is covered by forested, national park, ensuring that you’ll find more nature than crowds.  Just over an hour from Dubrovnik, Mljet is easily accessible while still feeling like you’re far from the crowds.

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World, Yacht Week

Yacht Week in Croatia.

Yacht Week in Croatia: The ultimate girl’s guide to Croatia travel is hardly complete without a mention of Yacht Week.  Imagine sailing through Croatia’s turquoise waters with 12 of your closest friends, stopping to party at Croatia’s most famous hot spots?  Well, that’s Yacht Week in a nutshell.  We met several people in Hvar who were part of Yacht Week.  They said it was one of the best experiences of their LIFE.

Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Croatia Travel

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World

Sailing off the coast of Sibenik, Croatia, north of Split. Click on photo to search hotels in Sibenik.

Sibenik: If nightlife is less important to you, give Sibenik a try.  With a beautiful medieval heart, & just an hour north of Split, Sibenik is known as the gateway to the stunning Krka National Park (known for its waterfalls), as well as the Kornati Islands.

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Flying over Jelsa, Croatia…

Jelsa: If you want to be on Hvar Island, but don’t want to be in the thick of tourists & nightlife ~ try heading over to Jelsa.  About 20 km east of Hvar Town, Jelsa is surrounded by pine forests, & you can wine taste, enjoy beautiful beaches, & more peace & quiet than in Hvar Town itself.

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World, Korcula

The Old Town of Korcula, a short distance from Dubrovnik.

Korcula: Korcula may be one of the most charming islands in Croatia ~ with olive groves, vineyards, & stunning, traditional medieval villages.  Korcula Town is a good base, & is known as “Little Dubrovnik.”  Korcula is also one of the largest islands in Croatia, at 47 km long (20 miles), & gives the visitor plenty of options ~ from lively towns to secluded beaches.  It’s 2.5 hours by ferry from Dubrovnik to Korcula, with ferries running mainly during summer months.

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World, Trogir, Croatia

Sailing through turquoise waters near Trogir, Croatia.

Trogir: Just 30 km north of Split & an easy drive, lies Trogir.  If you love history & architecture, not to mention sailing in gorgeous turquoise waters ~ than Trogir is perfect for you.  Its historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the best-preserved Roman-Gothic complex in all of Central Europe.

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World, Split, Croatia

Chances are, if you visit Croatia ~ you will at some point end up in Split.

Split: Split is a major crossroads in Croatia, with its central location, international airport, & ferry access to numerous islands ~ including Hvar & Korcula.  It’s also Croatia’s second largest city, & has the massive, fortress-like Diocletian’s Palace at its center in the heart of town ~ another impressive Roman monument.  You’ll have plenty of hotel, dining, & nightlife options in Split ~ but personally, it wasn’t our favorite Croatian city.  While we felt entirely safe in Hvar, for instance ~ we felt much more cautious in Split, encountering some men who followed us back to our hotel.  We found the islands much more relaxing.

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World, Plitivice National Park, Croatia

One of the most beautiful places in a country full of beautiful places: Plitivice National Park. Click on photo for hotels near Plitivice.

Plitivice National Park: One of Croatia’s biggest attractions, Plitivice is a gorgeous collection of turquoise waterfalls, terraced lakes that cascade into each other, walkways, & hiking trails.  For a more active girl’s getaway: head to Plitivice!

Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Croatia Travel

 Thanks for checking out this “Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Croatia Travel!”  Usually, the more photos I take of a country: the more I like it.  And as you can see, I have NO shortage of photos for Croatia!  This is a remarkable country, filled with postcard-perfect destinations.  And I’m merely scratching the surface of Croatia in this article….there are so many islands to discover here, & hidden treasures.  If you really want to make the most of your Croatia trip, consider renting a car & cruising up the coastline ~ which gives you the freedom to stop when you find a place you love.

xoxo Noelia 

Read Next: Ultimate Guide to Hvar Island in Croatia!

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Ultimate Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World

Ultimate Girl's Guide to Croatia Travel, Girl Who Travels the World

20 Photos to Inspire Your Croatia Trip, Girl Who Travels the World